Windows 8 fault

Hi,
I'm trying to fix an ASUS windows 8 laptop, basically someone tried to install windows 7 and completely screwed it up.

When it's booted the screen keeps flashing, like explorer is continually restarting. I can't do a factory reset because it says a partition is missing (Although the recovery partition appears to be there). I would like to try to create the recovery media so started in safe mode (Doesn't do the flashing thing) but it wont let me in safe mode.

Is there a way to manually browse to the option to create recovery mediaor perhaps could I get explorer.exe from somewhere and try replacing it?

Thanks

 

Is it flashing on the metro screen?

If so, I had this issue before and had to do a chkdsk to fix it.

 

Is the metro screen the tiles?

When it loads it goes to the old style explorer screen not the tiles and every 5-6 seconds it flashes as if re-loading, if I press the windows button I get all the apps (but not the usual tiles) but again it flashes every 5-6 seconds so I haven't time to click anything.
I can however get into task manager and if I end explorer.exe I lose the icons and the flashing

 

Yep, the tile screen is the metro screen. Try out a chkdsk. It fixed my issue with it.

 

started in safe mode with command prompt, ran "chkdsk /f /r" and restarted seemed to be stuck on 11% for like 30-40 mins next time I looked it had booted to logon, put in password but just the same

 

I ran Hddregen and it finds a delay at the beginning, re-run it twice but still keeps finding the delay.

I took it back to the store and told them the HD seems to have a fault and left it. Just been to collect it and they said it was a software fault and have fixed it. I'm concerned that the HD may have an inherent fault though.

Any thoughts how they could get it working when I couldn't?

 

Reinstalled?

 

No, everything as was except can use it now